So last night Arsenal scored three away goals in the same stadium where two weeks ago they conceded two goals to Benfica and nearly went out on the away goals rule as a consequence.  It’s all Greek to me.

 

United Kingdom?

 

With all the change going on, it is probably worth just revisiting where we are with lockdown restrictions.

 

  • In England you must stay at home.  Which means you can leave your home but shouldn’t go very far if you do.
  • In Wales, from this weekend, you will no longer have to stay at home but should stay local.  Which means you can leave your home but shouldn’t go very far if you do.
  • In England you can share a coffee or other libation with one other person outside.  In Scotland and Wales, from this weekend two adults can share their garden with two other adults from another household.  However in none of these countries, nor, indeed, in Northern Ireland should you share your Netflix password outside your household.
  • Gatherings of three adults are permissible outside provided two are on the north side of Hadrian’s Wall and one is on the south side.
  • In Wales, from Saturday, outside sports venues will be reopened.  This means that at Llanymynech Golf Clube you will be able to play the first three holes and your approach shot to the 4th, but will have to wait until at least March 29th to putt out.
  • In Wales self-contained accommodation will reopen on 27th March but will be shut down again if English people come to stay.  But hairdressers and barbers can open from Monday and cut hair for people of all nationalities.
  • In England, where we are taking a more cautious approach to the lifting of restrictions, garden centres are open.  In Wales where Mark Drakeford is announcing more lifting of restrictions, garden centres are closed.  But Welsh people can go to a garden centre in England so long as it is local.

 

Got that?  There will be a test later.

 

All the way with FCA

 

We have received the attached letter from Charlotte Cross at FCA highlighting some security vulnerabilities that have allowed hackers to commit fraud over premium and claims payments.  You should definitely review your email security and processes around verifying bank account detail changes as suggested in the letter.  We are also exploring adding the subject of cyber security to our upcoming webinar programme, so look out for that.

 

FCA has also updated its list of policy wordings that may respond to BI claims in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in the Test Cases.  Email detailing this is attached.

 

And FCA is launching a new online invoicing portal on 12 April 2021 for firms to access their invoices and arrange payment of their fees. This system will replace the existing portal. More information on these changes is available from FCA website.

 

OFAC hrist’s sake

 

As you will remember DXC have obtained a “Special Licence” to process some OFAC Sanctioned business.

 

To allow DXC to process business from brokers under this licence an Attestation is required from brokers on an annual basis.

 

This week DXC published their Market Communication 2021-014 (attached) which details what is required.

 

Introducing Obvious Corruption

 

This column likes little more than a dodgy election.  And so, without any suggestion of a connection, we bring you the news of the re-election of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach – known as Johann Sebastian in the dressing room; or maybe “Woof”.

 

TBa stood unopposed.  Indeed no standing IOC President has been challenged for re-election since 1968.  A good start.  He received 93 votes to one against – Hastings Banda territory – highlighting that there must be one member of the IOC Executive Committee who is really fed up and wants out.  And he did all this on the back of winning the Seoul and Cem-Papandreou peace prizes – peace prizes being the sanctuary of choice for people suspected of gaining favour in less than pure polls (cf Juan Manuel Santos passim; and Barack Obama (according to @TheRealDonaldTrump)).

 

So, good effort from the lad.  I am awarding it 7.9 on the Ortegometer – the internationally recognised benchmark for fraudulent electoral practices.

 

Could it get any CDR?

 

Lloyd’s has issued its consultation on its proposed Common Date Record (CDR).  Here are the links.

 

 

I would encourage you to review the attached and contribute as this will be key to driving the Lloyd’s view.

 

Please feel free to distribute this internally as the more voices the better.

 

But why, oh why, oh why did they not call it the Fundamental Data Record.  Would have been so much better.

 

A brief Hobbette

 

Whilst on the subject of Lloyd’s, Ms Hobbs only contribution this week is to point out that Lloyd’s Europe has a new TOBA that has been sent through to brokers this week. The changes relate to data privacy following the end of the transition period and incorporates standard contractual clauses.

 

I have had to up my insurance game this week to compensate for this poor showing.

 

It’s training again

 

As a reminder of our upcoming schedule of webinars

 

Wednesday 17th March at 12pm,  Caroline Bedford on this year’s Digital Minds programme.  Register here for that.

 

25th March at 12pm we have our virtual AGM – your chance to put questions to me and Chairman Richard Dudley on any aspect of LIIBA’s work.  Link to register here.

 

Monday 22nd March at 9am “Be on point online” from training company An Infinite Space.   Register here.

 

Monday 29th March at 10:15am Facilities Forum  You can register here.

 

And then in the pipeline we have a presentation from the Corporation of London on its vision for the post pandemic City.  We are organising another claims forum.  And we will have some briefer focussed updates that we are calling LIIBA Snippets (an idea we have shamelessly lifted from LMA) – the first of which will be around IT outsourcing and (probably) security.

 

Silly old sausage

 

Last week we uncovered the idiocy of Clint Whatshisface who was recaptured whilst ion the run from prison when he kicked a policeman in the groin whilst out shopping for the latest Call of Duty iteration.  This week we concentrate on the narrow escape of a 30 year old Albanian from a burglary conviction.

 

Firstly, kudos to Sky for “fear the wurst”.  Excellent stuff.  But they should have been more confident and not felt the need to clumsily explain it in paragraph 3.

 

Anyway, the hapless thief clearly felt peckish during the raid and so helped himself to half a sausage he may or may not have found in the fridge.  He left the other half behind, which was, of course, riddled with his DNA.  Fast forward nine years and he is arrested in France, has to submit to a DNA test and PING up he matches on the German police system.  What an idiot you might say.  And you would be right.  But he is saved by the length of time this has taken.  Nine years is beyond the statute of limitations and it seems he can’t be extradited.  So, rather than going from banger to banged up, he won’t be shipolatad off to Schwelm and can look forward to a free but, perhaps, solitary life on his pepperoni.

 

 

That is it.  And we got through all that without a single mention of Meghan Markle or Piers Morgan.  D’oh!